Casement window

ABSTRACT

A window assembly adapted for easy installation in a building structure includes a pair of side casement windows and a central casement window all encased in a common window frame, the side windows being pivotal outwardly about hidden hinges in the adjacent window jambs and also being selectively pivotal about an axis spaced from and parallel to the window jambs, and the central window being pivotal inwardly about a hinge on one side so that both faces of each windowpane are presentable to the interior of the building structure for cleaning purposes. A motor or optional manual drive is provided to effect pivotal movement of the hidden hinges for opening and closing the side windows.

llnited States Patent 1 91 Cecil Nov. 5, 1974 1 CASEMENT WINDOW [76] Inventor: Florence A. Cecil, 7309 W.

Hampden, Denver, C010.

22 Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 316,082

[52] US. Cl 49/139, 49/95, 49/153, 49/340 [51] int. Cl E051 15/12 [58] Field of Search 49/139, 140, 153, 162,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,093 6/1926 Carlson 49/153 X 2,309,001 1/1943 Nave et a1... 49/398 2,684,239 7/1954 Gaffney 49/140 2,744,594 5/1956 Travis 49/95 3,675,370 7/1972 Catlett et al. 49/340 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell [57] ABSTRACT A window assembly adapted for easy installation in a building structure includes a pair of side casement windows and a central casement window all encased in a common window frame, the side windows being pivotal outwardly about hidden hinges in the adjacent window jambs and also being selectively pivotal about an axis spaced from and parallel to the window jambs, and the central window being pivotal inwardly about a hinge on one side so that both faces of each windowpane are presentable to the interior of the building structure for cleaning purposes. A motor or optional manual drive is provided to effect pivotal movement of the hidden hinges for opening and closing the side windows.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 1 CASEMENT wmnow The present invention generally concerns window assemblies and more particularly a window assembly which includes casement windows that are pivotal about one side and about an axis spaced from and parallel to the one side by a hinge mechanism substantially enclosed in the window frame.

Since the advent of casement type windows, numerous arrangements have been devised whereby both the inner and outer faces of the windowpanes can be easily cleaned from within the building structure in which the windows are installed. Examples of such windows are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,594 issued to Travis and US. Pat. No. 3,122,799 issued to Lunde. Conventional casement windows have not been aesthetically attractive inasmuch as the hinges on which the windows are mounted for outward pivotal movement traditionally have been on the outside of the window and additionally the windows have not been designed for motor driven operation. 1

The casement window arrangement of the present invention employs a hinge arrangement wherein hinges along one side of the window are not visible when the window is closed and are adapted to support the window for outward pivotal movement about one side of the window and about an axis through the window spaced from and parallel to the one side whereby both faces of the window can be presented to the interior of the building structure for cleaning purposes. More particularly, the hinge arrangement includes a pair of spaced substantially semicircular arrangement includes a pair of spaced substantially semicircular hinge members enclosed within a hollow window jamb, or other hollow member of the window frame, whereby they are hidden from view by the hollow frame member. The semi-circular hinge members are fixedly secured to a concentric pivot shaft well suited for motor driven movement, also disposed within the hollow frame member, and have attachment extensions which extend along and are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the window sash. A releasable snap-lock operably connects the attachment extension of each hinge member to the associated side of the window sash so that when the locks are released, the window sash along with the windowpane retained therein is allowed to pivot about an axis passing through the pivotal connections between the hinge members and the window sash. However, when the snap-locks are not released the window sash is prevented from movement relative to the hinge members so that the window can only pivot outwardly about one side thereof in unison with the pivot shaft.

In one preferred form of the invention described in detail hereafter, a complete window assembly includes a pair of side casement windows of the type described hereinbefore which are spaced from each other by a central casement window. The central window is hinged along one side to open inwardly whereby it is easily cleaned on either side when opened and the side windows as previously mentioned, open outwardly and are selectively pivotal about one side and about an axis spaced from and parallel to the one side. Accordingly, they too can be easily cleaned when opened by releasing the snap-locks and pivoting the windows about the aforementioned axis so that both sides of the windowpanes can be presented to the interior of the building structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved casement window assembly having a substantially hidden hinge mechanism which allows the window to be pivoted about one side and about an axis spaced from and parallel to the one side.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a casement window assembly utilizing semicircular circular hinge members which are substantially disposed within a hollow portion of the window frame and which are pivotally connected to the window in a manner such that the window can be selectively pivoted about one side thereof or about an axis spaced from and parallel to the one side.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a complete window assembly including side casement windows pivotal outwardly about one side and about an axis spaced from and parallel to the one side and being spaced from each other by a central casement window which is hinged along one side to pivot inwardly whereby each of the windows can be easily cleaned from inside the building structure in which the window assembly is mounted.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a wintaken along line 66 of FIG. 2 with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 88 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation with parts removed for clarity showing a motor drive arrangement for the window assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section showing in dotted lines a manual operating handle as an alternative to the motor driven arrangement of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the snap-lock connection between the window sash and hinge member.

With reference first to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a complete window assembly 20 according to the present invention is shown to include a window frame 22 surrounding a pair of side casement windows 24 and a central window 26. For purposes of description, it is to be understood that the side casement windows are identical except that they are pivoted about opposite sides as will become more clear later. The windowframe 22 includes a windowsill 28 extending along the bottom sides of the windows, a pair of window jambs 30 along the outer sides of the side casement windows 24, a window head 32 extending across the top sides of the windows, and a pair of spaced mullions 34 parallel to the window jambs 30 and separating the side windows 24 from the central window 26. Each component of the window frame is composed of hollow tubular material varying in size and shape to house component parts of the operating mechanism for the side windows as will be explained hereinafter.

Looking now at FIGS. 1, 4 through 6, 9 and 10, the side casement windows 24 can be seen to include a rectangular window sash 36 composed of elongated pairs of horizontal top and bottom sash bars 38 and 40 respectively and vertical side sash bars 42 and 44 of solid substantially T-shaped transverse cross-sections. The elongated sash bars are integrally connected at their corners to provide a rigid framework for a pane of glass 46. The substantially T-shaped sash bars have a stem portion 48 extending rearwardly and a cross portion 50 that presents a flat surface 52 across the front of the window sash as well as inner and outer flat abutment surfaces 54 and 56 respectively on the rear of the sash bars on either side of the stem portion 48. The outer flat abutment surface 56 on the rear of the sash bars extends peripherally along the entire window sash and abuts against the front face of the window jamb 30 on one side, the window mullion 34 on the other side, the window head 32 at the top and the windowsill 28 at the bottom when the window is closed. The windowpane 46 is abutted against the inner abutment surface 54 on the rear of the window sash and the windowpane is held in place by elongated glass stops 58 by L-shaped transverse cross-section positively anchored to the inner abutment surface 54, as by screws 60, so as to confine the windowpane between an overhanging lip 62 on the glass stop and the inner abutment surface of the window sash. Elongated strips of spring flashing 64 can be anchored to the inner faces of the associated frame members around the side window openings whereby a tapered outer side 66 of the stem portion 48 of the window sash bars will engage the spring flashing 64 and establish a weather tight seal around the window opening. To further seal the window opening and make the window assembly more aesthetically pleasing from the interior of the building structure, window stops 68 can be screwed to the inner surface of the window frame around the window openings so that the rear end 70 of the stem portion 48 of the window sash bars abuts the window stop 68. The window sash 36, therefore, peripherally abuts the front face of the window frame 22, the window stop 68, and the spring flashing 64 whereby three separate seals are established between the window sash and the surrounding window frame.

Each of the window sashes 36 for the side casement windows 24 are pivotally mounted in the window assembly by a hinge mechanism generally designated 72 which is substantially enclosed within the adjacent hollow window jambs 30. The hinge mechanism 72 includes a vertical pivot shaft 74 disposed adjacent the front face of the hollow window jamb and flat semicircular hinge members 76 rigidly secured to the pivot shaft adjacent the top and bottom sash bars 38 and 40 respectively so as to lie normally thereto. Each semicircular hinge member 76 is comprised of a semi-circle portion 78, a lever arm portion 80 connecting the outermost extent of the semi-circle portion to the pivot shaft, and an attachment extension 82 adapted to ex- 5 jamb 30 through a horizontal slot 84, FIG. 10, in the window jamb so that upon pivotal movement of the pivot shaft 74, the semi-circle portion 78 of the hinge member will more into and out of the window jamb causing the attachment extension 82 to swing through a corresponding arc effecting swinging movement of the window sash outwardly away from the building structure as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The attachment extension of the hinge members can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 to be connected to the top and bottom sash bars 38 and 40 respectively of the associated window sash between the glass stop 58 and the innermost surface 86 of the stem portion 48 of the top and bottom sash bars. The free end of the attachment extension 82 is pivotally connected at 88 to the longitudinal center of the top or bottom sash bar so that the window can pivot freely about a central vertical axis 89, FIG. 2, when the window is open and the pivotal movement is not obstructed by the window frame 22. The pivotal connection is established by a pin 90 on the sash bars which is pivotally received in a'mating opening 92 in the attachment extension. The window is normally prevented from rotating freely about the pivotal connection 88 with the hinge members by a snap-lock arrange ment 94 operatively connecting the attachment extension 82 to the window sash near the end of the associated sash bar adjacent to the window jamb. The snaplock 94 in the disclosed form is a conventional balldetent having a ball 96 in a recess 98 in the associated sash bar biased by a coil spring 100 into a detent 102 in the attachment extension whereby the ball 96 will normally prevent the window sash from moving relative to the hinge member but with excessive pressure the ball will snap out of the detent 102 allowing the window to pivot freely about the pivotal connection 88 on the vertical central axis 89 of the window. Both hinge members 76 are provided with a ball-detent whereby the window is normally positively prevented from rotation so that the window is opened and closed by pivotal movement about the pivot shaft.

Looking now at FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be seen that the pivot shaft 74 for each hinge mechanism 72 extends vertically through the associated hollow window jamb 30 and is journalled at opposite ends, only the bottom being shown, in inwardly extending ledges 104 of the window frame 22 and prevented from longitudinal movement by C-clips 108 on the ends of the shaft. The lowermost portion 106 of the pivot shaft which is below the lower hinge member 76 fixedly carries a worm gear 110. A reversible electric motor 112 is mounted in the hollow windowsill 28 with its drive shaft 114 extending horizontally, normal to and immediately adjacent the worm gear 110. The drive shaft 114 has a worm gear 1'16 in alignment with the worm gear on the pivot shaft so as to mesh therewith and cause pivotal movement of the pivot shaft upon rotative movement of the drive shaft. Preferably, the gear ratio between the two worm gears 110 and 116 and the driven rate of the drive shaft are such as to cause pivotal movement of the pivot shaft 74 at a rate of 5 rpm. Limit switches, not shown, of course could be employed to stop pivotal movement of each side window at a selected open and closed position. By use of a three-position toggle switch, the window could be stopped at any intermediate open position using conventional circuitry. Optionally, in place of or in combination with the motor 112, a manual crank 118 having a handle 120 and a crank shaft 122 could be journalled in the forward and rearward walls of the tubular windowsill 28 so that the crank shaft 122 of the manual crank passed normally adjacent to the worm gear 110 on the pivot shaft 74 so that a worm gear 124 on the crank shaft would mesh with the worm gear 110 on the pivot shaft causing pivotal movement of the pivot shaft upon rotative movement of the manual crank.

It will be appreciated that when the side windows are closed, the hinge members 76 are fully hidden from view in that the semi-circle portion 78 as well as the lever portion 80 of the hinge members are disposed within the hollow window jamb 30 and the attachment extension 82 of the hinge member is positioned between the window sash 36 and the associated glass stop 58. This arrangement presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also, since the window sash is engaged at three peripheral locations around its periphery with the window frame as discussed hereinbefore, a weathertight seal between the window and the window frame is effected.

Looking now more particularly at FIGS. 1 and 6 through 8, it will be seen that the central window 26 includes a window sash 126 composed of top and bottom sash bars 128 and 130 respectively as well as side sash bars 132 and 134 of substantially L-shaped transverse cross-section. A pane of window glass 136 is maintained against the forward face 138 of the sash bars by glass stops 140 which comprise elongated strips of sub stantially L-shaped cross-section which extend along each sash bar and are screwed or otherwise secured to the sash bars to retain the pane of glass between inturned lips 142 of the glass stops and the forward face 138 of the window sash. The outermost side 144 of the sash bars are tapered forwardly and outwardly so that along side sash bar 132, an elongated conventional piano hinge 146 can be connected between the tapered side 144 of the associated sash bar and the adjacent mullion 34 whereby the central window is pivotal about the hinge 146 to open inwardly into the building structure. The tapered sides 144 of the other side sash bar 134 and the top and bottom sash bars engage spring flashing 148 which is anchored to the adjacent mullion 34 of the window frame on one side and to the window head 32 and windowsill 28 at the top and bottom respectively to provide a weather-tight seal along the edges of the central window. The forwardmost edges of the window sash bars are adapted to abut a peripheral window stop 150 comprised of channelled members anchored to the window frame mullions 34 and to the head and sill 32 and 28 respectively as by screw-type fasteners 152. The window stop 150 serves to hide from view the hinge 146 as well as the spring flashing 148 around the edges of the window so as to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance from outside the building structure. Spaced wing nuts 154 are pivotally attached to the mullion 34 along the sash bar 134 so as to be rotatable into overlapping relationship with the sash bar 134 when the window is closed whereby it is positively maintained in the closed position. To open the window it is merely necessary to pivot the wing nuts 154 so that they do not overlie the window sash and swing the window inwardly about the hinge 146.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, a drip plate 156 may be disposed along the lower edge of the bottom sash bar so that moisture draining down the outer face of the windowpane 136 will be urged outwardly away from the building structure so as not to collect on the windowsill 28. in the disclosed form, the drip plate 156' comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal channelled at one end to overhang the inturned lip 142 of the associated glass stop along the lower edge of the window and having an inclined plate portion 158 extending away from the windowpane and terminating in a downturned lip 160 forwardly of the windowsill. As shown in FIG. 6, the side edge of the drip plate 156 adjacent the sash bar 134 is tapered inwardly at 162 allowing clearance between the drip plate and the window stop so that the window is free to swing inwardly without interferance between the drip plate and the window stop.

Accordingly, a window assembly has been described which in the preferred form is comprised of three separate pivotal windows, the outermost two of which pivot outwardly away from the building structure along the outermost sides thereof and additionally are adapted to rotate about a central vertical axis whereby both the front and rear faces of the windowpane are easily presentable to a window cleaner within the building structure. As previously pointed out, the hinge assembly for the side windows are completely hidden from view when the window is closed so that the window presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance from outside the building. The central window which separates the two side windows is hinged along one side to swing inwardly whereby both faces of its windowpane are also easily cleaned from inside the building structure. Additionally, each of the windows in the window assembly establish weather-tight seals therearound so that the inside of the building is completely sealed from the external environment. Also, as previously described, the arrangement is well suited for power operation if desired.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window assembly including a rectangular window sash in which a pane of glass is retained, a hollow window frame member along one side of the window sash, the window sash being pivotally mounted along one side to the hollow frame member, the improvement comprising an elongated pivot shaft disposed longitudinally in said hollow frame member, said pivot shaft being journalled in the window frame for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a pair of axially spaced flat hinge members fixedly secured to and concentric with the pivot shaft adjacent opposite ends of the window sash for unitary pivotal movement with the pivot shaft, said hinge members having a substantially semicircular portion, a lever portion rigidly interconnecting one end of the semi-circular portion with the pivot shaft, and an attachment extension extending radially away from the other end of the semi-circular portion so as to lie closely adjacent and parallel to the said opposite ends of the window sash, slots in the hollow frame member through which the -semi-circular portion of the hinge member protrude so that the attachment extension lies wholly outside the hollow frame member, pivotal connection means for pivotally connecting the end of the attachment extension furthest removed from the semi-circular portion of the hinge member to an intermediate portion of the associated end of the window sash so that the window sash is pivotal about an axis passing through the pivotal connection means, balldetent mechanisms operatively interconnecting the attachment extension portion of the hinge members to the associated ends of the window sash at locations between said pivotal connection means and the semicircular portion of the hinge members, and drive means in operative engagement with the pivot shaft to effect pivotal movement of the pivot shaft whereby the window is moved between open and closed positions.

2. In the window assembly of claim 1, said drive means comprising a rotatable shaft journalled in a second hollow window frame member, first gear means on said rotatable shaft, second gear means on said pivot shaft meshed with said first gear means such that rotation of the rotatable shaft will effect pivotal movement of the pivot shaft, and a hangle on said rotatable shaft to facilitate manual rotation of the rotatable shaft.

3. In the window assembly of claim 1, said drive means comprising a motor, a drive shaft on said motor, first gear means on said drive shaft, and second gear means on said drive shaft meshed with said first gear means such that rotation of the drive shaft will effect pivotal movement of the pivotal shaft.

4. A window assembly comprising in combination, a window frame having a hollow window sill across the bottom of the frame, a head across the top of the frame, a pair of spaced hollow jambs at the sides of the frame, and a pair of spaced mullions parallel to and spaced inwardly from the jambs so as to define a pair of side openings adjacent each jamb and a central opening between the pair of mullions, first and second casement windows in said side openings and a central window in said central opening, said central window having a window sash and a pane of glass retained therein, first hinge means pivotally connecting said central window sash to one of said mullions for pivotal movement rearwardly of said frame between open and closed positions, latch means for securing said central window sash in the closed position, second and third hinge means for pivotally connecting said first and second casement windows respectively to the adjacent jambs, said second and third hinge means each comprising an elongated pivotal shaft journalled for pivotal movement within the associated jamb, a pair of axially spaced hinge members connected to said pivot shaft for unitary pivotal movement therewith adjacent opposite ends of the associated casement window, each hinge member comprising a semi-circular portion concentric with the pivotal shaft, a lever portion rigidly connecting one end of the semi-circular portion with the pivot shaft, and an attachment extension extending radially away from the other end of the semi-circular portion, slots in the jambs through which the hinge members extend so that the attachment extension lies closely adjacent and parallel to the casement window sashes at said opposite ends, connection means on a central axis of the casement windows for pivotally connecting the attachment extension to the casement window sashes at said opposite ends, releasable connection means operatively interconnecting the attachment extensions to the associated casement window sashes at the said opposite end to selectively prevent pivotal movement of the casement window sashes relative to said hinge members, and drive means for selectively effecting pivotal movement of said pivot shaft.

33 33 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,845,585 Dated November 1974 Inventork's) Florence A.v Cecil It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

ln the Specification Column 1, line 32, delete "arrangement includes" line 33, delete "a pairof spaced substantially I semicircular" Column 2, line 38, delete entire line In the Claims:

Column 7, line 22, delete "hangle" and substitute --handle-- Signed and sealed this 4th day of March 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer I and Trademarks 

1. In a window assembly including a rectangular window sash in which a pane of glass is retained, a hollow window frame member along one side of the window sash, the window sash being pivotally mounted along one side to the hollow frame member, the improvement comprising an elongated pivot shaft disposed longitudinally in said hollow frame member, said pivot shaft being journalled in the window frame for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a pair of axially spaced flat hinge members fixedly secured to and concentric with the pivot shaft adjacent opposite ends of the window sash for unitary pivotal movement with the pivot shaft, said hinge members having a substantially semi-circular portion, a lever portion rigidly interconnecting one end of the semi-circular portion with the pivot shaft, and an attachment extension extending radially away from the other end of the semi-circular portion so as to lie closely adjacent and parallel to the said opposite ends of the window sash, slots in the hollow frame member through which the semi-circular portion of the hinge member protrude so that the attachment extension lies wholly outside the hollow frame member, pivotal connection means for pivotally connecting the end of the attachment extension furthest removed from the semi-circular portion of the hinge member to an intermediate portion of the associated end of the window sash so that the window sash is pivotal about an axis passing through the pivotal connection means, ball-detent mechanisms operatively interconnecting the attachment extension portion of the hinge members to the associated ends of the window sash at locations between said pivotal connection means and the semi-circular portion of the hinge members, and drive means in operative engagement with the pivot shaft to effect pivotal movement of the pivot shaft whereby the window is moved between open and closed positions.
 2. In the window assembly of claim 1, said drive means comprising a rotatable shaft journalled in a second hollow window frame member, first gear means on said rotatable shaft, second gear means on said pivot shaft meshed with said first gear means such that rotation of the rotatable shaft will effect pivotal movement of the pivot shaft, and a hangle on said rotatable shaft to facilitate manual rotation of the rotatable shaft.
 3. In the window assembly of claim 1, said drive means comprising a motor, a drive shaft on said motor, first gear means on said drive shaft, and second gear means on said drive shaft meshed with said first gear means such that rotation of the drive shaft will effect pivotal movement of the pivotal shaft.
 4. A window assembly comprising in combination, a window frame having a hollow window sill across the bottom of the frame, a head across the top of the frame, a pair of spaced hollow jambs at the sides of the frame, and a pair of spaced mullions parallel to and spaced inwardly from the jambs so as to define a pair of side openings adjacent each jamb and a central opening between the pair of mullions, first and second casement windows in said side openings and a central window in said central opening, said central window having a window sash and a pane of glass retained therein, first hinge means pivotally connecting said central window sash to one of said mullions for pivotal movement rearwardly of said frame between open and closed positions, latch means for securing said cEntral window sash in the closed position, second and third hinge means for pivotally connecting said first and second casement windows respectively to the adjacent jambs, said second and third hinge means each comprising an elongated pivotal shaft journalled for pivotal movement within the associated jamb, a pair of axially spaced hinge members connected to said pivot shaft for unitary pivotal movement therewith adjacent opposite ends of the associated casement window, each hinge member comprising a semi-circular portion concentric with the pivotal shaft, a lever portion rigidly connecting one end of the semi-circular portion with the pivot shaft, and an attachment extension extending radially away from the other end of the semi-circular portion, slots in the jambs through which the hinge members extend so that the attachment extension lies closely adjacent and parallel to the casement window sashes at said opposite ends, connection means on a central axis of the casement windows for pivotally connecting the attachment extension to the casement window sashes at said opposite ends, releasable connection means operatively interconnecting the attachment extensions to the associated casement window sashes at the said opposite end to selectively prevent pivotal movement of the casement window sashes relative to said hinge members, and drive means for selectively effecting pivotal movement of said pivot shaft. 